Joaquin Phoenix now officially confirmed as Joker

The project's budget will be in the $55 million range, which is significantly lower than most superhero movies and suggests a more risky take on the comic book adaptation a la 20th Century Fox's R-rated Deadpool and Logan.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the standalone film was picked up by Warner Bros. and will begin filming in NY this September with Phoenix playing Batman's arch-nemesis. Phoenix had been rumored to have the lead role for months, but played coy about whether or not he was aware of the part.

But now Phoenix has reportedly finalized his deal to play Joker in this untitled standalone, which Phillips-the filmmaker behind The Hangover trilogy and the crime film War Dogs-will direct from a script he co-wrote with Scott Silver.

The Joker movie has been a bit of an enigma amongst DC Comics fans, ever since it was first announced in September of past year.

"I see it as any other movie", he said. If you have the ability to transcend the genre, then that's what you want to do.

Phoenix is not the only A-lister playing the Clown Prince of Crime either; Jared Leto is also preparing to revisit his interpretation, last seen - albeit fleetingly - in 2016's Suicide Squad.